The Alice Springs branch of the ALP used strong words to express their anger at the granting of an exploration license for uranium mining 25 kms south of Alice Springs.

In a motion that was passed at the local branch meeting on Monday night, the statement read:

"The Alice Springs branch of the ALP publicly expresses its disgust and dismay at the grant of the licence, and opposes the exploration and possible mining of the area."

The motion was moved by Charlie Carter and seconded by Angus McIvor. Speaking to ABC Local Radio, Mr McIvor said the branch felt compelled to put forward the motion.

"We just felt we hadn't done enough as a branch even though people had put submissions to the minister about the exploration license."

With concerns for his 6 year old daughter, Mr McIvor defended the actions of the local branch saying they passed the motion because of concerns about air and water quality.

"It's a quality of life issue now it's nothing to do with money or jobs or housing. It's really to do with do you want the government to step in and give security over fresh air and clean water or do you want them to abrogate their responsibility in favour of a mining exploration license," said Mr McIvor.

NT Government responds

In response to the split from the local branch, Minister for Resources, Kon Vatskalis, said he was not surprised by the disunity.

"I'm not surprised. Uranium is a very emotional issue. We had the same debate when the Labor Party discussed the uranium issue during their recent conference."

With 200 submissions received by the government, including individual submissions by members of the local ALP branch, Mr Vatskalis down played significance of the exploration license at the Angela Pamela site.

"Things are not going to start happening in the proposed investigation area unless the company comes to us with a proper management plan, they put in place an environmental bond and ensure the department the work is going to be done properly.

The Party could face further disunity over the issue with the new Minister for Central Australia, Alison Anderson, assuring Centralians that she will take their concerns over the exploration license to the government.

"I will speak out as you know and like I said at the rally on Friday and Sunday at the markets I will take the concerns of central Australians back to my cabinet colleagues," said Ms Anderson.